Seb Larsson took his time to settle in at Hull City, after joining Leonid Slutsky’s Russian revolution at the KCOM Stadium.

After his release from Sunderland the previous season, the Swede signed up for a year in East Yorkshire a week into the new campaign with a glaring lack of match fitness having missed pre-season.

As the season wore on, though, Larsson found his stride to arguably become the first name on the teamsheet by Nigel Adkins, who had taken the helm in December. Now, six months on, it looks as though Larsson has played his final game in black and amber.

Despite previously stating his future would not be resolved until after the World Cup in Russia this summer, reports in Sweden this week suggest the midfielder is set to complete a move to Swedish heavyweights AIK.

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Should he complete the switch to his homeland he will become the sixth player to leave on a free transfer this summer, following in the footsteps of Allan McGregor, Adama Diomande, David Meyler, Michael Dawson and Abel Hernandez.

However, as Adkins desperately attempts to add numbers to his squad ahead of the new season, the Swede could prove to be the hardest to replace.

“Seb knows I’d love him to be at the football club,” Adkins said towards the end of the season about his talismanic midfielder when asked about his long-term future.

“He’s got a smile on his face, he’s working hard and he’s getting ready for a World Cup. I play him, I pick him and he’s a role model for everybody.”

Despite having over 400 career appearances under his belt before he signed on the dotted line at the KCOM Stadium, Larsson’s arrival was met with mixed reaction, having failed to nail down a regular spot during his last two seasons at Sunderland.

But, with game time came fitness and with fitness came form as Larsson’s energy and grit in the middle of the park became pivotal to City’s style of play. While he hasn’t always picked up the credit he deserves, Larsson carried the club at times.

The midfielder not only shone himself in a positive light, but he has brought the best out of others too, most notably Markus Henriksen.

Over the last few months of the season his partnership with the Norwegian blossomed at the KCOM Stadium, forming a rigid platform on which the Tigers could build their late season success upon. Adkins now faces the difficult proposition of replacing the 33-year-old this summer.

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Larsson missed just five league games for the Tigers this season, a rare figure of consistency, and filling those shoes will no doubt prove a thankless task for Adkins and head of recruitment Lee Darnbrough.

Without Meyler, who joined Reading earlier this week, City not only possess a frightening lack of quality in the middle of the park but also experience and leadership, something that quite simply must be addressed if the Tigers are to avoid another miserable campaign.